The sun was beginning to set, casting a deep orange hue across the rocky terrain. The air was thick with the scent of ozone, and the ground was charred black with scorched marks scattered all around. Occasional flashes of white light briefly illuminated the scene, revealing deep cracks in the earth and the lingering remnants of previous lightning strikes. The atmosphere was charged, humming with residual energy as static clung to the air. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck a nearby rock with explosive force, shattering it into pieces and sending debris flying in all directions.
A few meters away, a lone figure stood amidst the devastation—Gojo, half-naked, his well-defined, chiseled abs glistening under the dimming sunlight. His signature white hair was slightly disheveled, the tips standing up ever so slightly from the static in the air. Electricity arced intermittently around his body, dancing along his outstretched arm as he surveyed his surroundings with narrowed eyes. The blackened floor beneath his feet crackled softly with residual energy.
'Whew, that was strenuous,' he thought, exhaling sharply. His training with lightning had been grueling, but the progress was undeniable. Just two weeks ago, he could barely muster a few weak sparks, and now, he was shaping and directing the element with significantly more precision. 'Definitely an improvement from just sparks.'
Going for another round, he steadied himself and extended his arm once more. This time, he concentrated deeply, focusing on the movement of free electrons in his surroundings. He visualized them gathering, accelerating, and building up around his limb. Now, this process involved manipulating the charge differential, creating a localized electrical field strong enough to ionize the air, allowing electricity to manifest visibly. With his enhanced vision, he could perceive the minute details of the particle movement, ensuring he did not overcharge and lose control, as he had during several of his previous, rather painful, accident's almost frying himself.
'I'd be barbecued if I didn't have my enhanced physique and personal TK shield,' he mused, wryly recalling past mishaps. As the lightning finally stabilized around his arm, he spread it out, allowing the energy to wrap around his body in a thin, white coating. Sparks crackled excitedly around him, the air around his form vibrating with raw energy. His hair lifted slightly more than usual, though not overly exaggerated.
'Hmmm, this still takes too much time,' he noted. 'I can't enter the same state as Killua or the Fourth Raikage just yet, but...'
Without warning, he vanished. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared fifty meters away, crouched beside another large rock with a soft almost silent crack in the air. The aura of lightning around him had dimmed, but a concentrated charge still lingered in his palm like a blade. Slowly, he stood, dismissing the last remnants of electricity. As he turned, the massive rock behind him silently split apart, the two halves sliding smoothly to the ground, revealing an impossibly refined cut.
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. 'Well, a win is a win.'
Stretching, he rolled his shoulders and muttered, "Okay, that's enough for today. Hmmm... what to do now?" He pondered for a moment before a thought crossed his mind. 'I wonder what Rogue is doing. Maybe I should go see her again. It's been two days since we last saw each other.'
After a brief deliberation, he nodded to himself. "Yeah, I think I'll go see her... just to check on how she's doing."
Just as he was about to teleport, he paused, glancing down at his bare torso. His shirt had been completely incinerated by the intensity of his training. He prepared to restore it with a flick of his energy but stopped mid-thought. A mischievous smirk formed on his lips before he disappeared in a silent flash.
____
The sun had long made its descent and the moon now appearing in the sky, casting its shadow over the Xavier Institute. The grounds were tranquil, save for the heavy breathing and exhausted groans of the X-Men as they trudged out of the training room.
"My God, Logan needs to seriously learn how to not always put us through the wringer," Rogue muttered as she walked alongside Kitty, Jean, and Jubilee, rolling her shoulders in an attempt to ease the soreness.
"I feel sore all over," Jean sighed, massaging her temples.
"I can go through a lot, but that? Oh my God, I felt that," Kitty groaned, shaking her head.
"Yeah, and that nasty uppercut he gave Bobby?" Jubilee added with a wince. The girls collectively shuddered at the memory of Logan landing a brutal hit on their teammate.
"He'll be okay, I guess," Rogue said, glancing at Jean. "It's Scott I'm worried about. He was thrown hard against the trailer construct. How's he doing?"
Jean opened her mouth to respond, but her phone buzzed. She glanced down and smirked. "Speak of the devil. Sorry, girls, gotta go." With that, she levitated off, answering the call as she disappeared into the mansion.
Jubilee whistled. "Wow, and there she goes."
"Their relationship is moving quite well," Kitty noted before turning her attention to Rogue. A teasing smirk spread across her face. "Kinda like a redhead and a snow prince romance we've been witnessing lately."
Jubilee snickered as Rogue blushed. "So, have you two gone on another date after that all-around trip around the planet?"
Kitty sighed dramatically. "I mean, girl, that kinda first date is unmatched."
Jubilee nodded in agreement. "Wish I had someone who'd take me sightseeing like that."
"Shut up," Rogue muttered, folding her arms. "And yeah, we've gone out twice since then, but nothing as grand as the first one."
Kitty and Jubilee exchanged a knowing glance before saying in unison, "Spill, girl. Now."
Rogue exhaled, scratching her head. "Well… he did take me to the Great Wall of China again for a—" she hesitated, clearing her throat, "candy date."
Kitty blinked. "Huh?"
"I actually enjoyed it," Rogue rushed to explain. "He sort of loves candies. Like, a lot."
Jubilee grinned. "So, he's a sweet tooth, huh? Who knew?"
As they continued prodding her with questions, Rogue eventually admitted, "Well, we kissed."
Kitty rolled her eyes. "Yeah, and?? You guys have been literally eating each other's faces."
She and Jubilee shared another glance before Kitty asked, "When are you gonna take the next step with him?"
Rogue faltered, a rare uncertainty creeping into her voice. "I—I'm not sure."
"Just don't push him away," Kitty said gently.
Rogue sighed, deciding that was enough girl talk for one day. "I'm tired."
She made her way to her room, grateful for the moment of solitude. Plopping onto her bed, she let her mind wander. After a while, she stood up, pulling off her top and tossing it into the laundry basket.
"Hello, gorgeous."
Rogue gasped, spinning around, only to find Gojo standing there, smirking. His upper body was bare, his toned physique on full display.
Her eyes widened in shock and embarrassment. "What the hell—?!"